Electrode holder



Sept. 29, 1936. A. J. FAUSEK ET AL ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Sept. 30, 1935 //YVEN7''0/S A. 1 FA L/JEK F. FA USEK A TTOE/YE v Fate-n i? Sept. 29, 1936' 2,056,045 mnemonn HOLDER Arthur J. Fausek and Irwin; F. Fausek', Clayton. Mo.

Application September so, 1935, Serial No. 42,869

10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrode holders, and more specifically to electrode holders of the type having jaws arranged for relative pivotal movement, the predominant object of the invention being to provide an electrode holder of this type which, because of its improved construction and arrangement, is capable of performing its intended function in a highly efficient and improved manner. n Fig. l is a plan view of the improved electrode holder.

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of the novel eiectrode holder shown in Fig. 1. i5 Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3-of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4.; isan enlarged section on line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of 20 Fig. 2. I

In the drawing, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved electrode holder generally, said electrode holder A comprising a jaw section B and a handle portion C. The jaw section B of the electrode holder A includes a fixed jaw i which is provided with a downwardly extended channel form portion 2 and a rear portion 3. Secured to the fixed jaw 39 i at a point inwardly of its forward end by welding 3 or otherwise is a U-shaped element 5, the bridge portion 5 of said element being in contact with the lower face of the fixed jaw I, and the spaced legs 5 of said element being extended upwardly from said fixed jaw l at the opposite sides thereof. Supported in openings formed in the upper portionsof the spaced legs of the element 5 and extended from one to the other of said legs is a rivet or other suitable pivot element 6.

The jaw section includes also a movable jaw I, the forward portion of which is extended in substantial parallelism with respect to the forward portion of the fixed law I, as shown to the best gripping members 8 are provided, said members, 9 being secured by means of rivets II or other-' '55 wise to said flxed and movable jaws, and the member 9 associated with the fixed jaw i'bein provided with grooves which assist in the proper secure gripping of the electrode by said members e.

The movable jaw "d at a point located a con- 5 siderable distance rearwardly of its forward end is bent upwardly, as indicated at i! in Fig. 2, and from the upper end of this portion ii a portion i2 is extended rearwardly and upwardly which provides the operating portion of the 10 movable jaw. The rear portion of the movable jaw portion i2 is provided with a covering 53 of insulation material which permits the operator of the electrode holder to move the movable handle without danger of electrical shock.

interposed between the fixed jaw i and the movable jaw l is a coil spring N, which tends to move the rear portion of the movable jaw upwardly with respect to the rear portion of the fixed jaw, so that the member 9 associated with the movable jaw will be moved toward the member 9 of the fixed jaw.- So that the opposite ends of the coil spring 54 may be held in their proper positions, the fixed jaw i and the movable jaw l are provided respectively with inwardly extended 5 protuberances l and l, which are formed by displacing portions of the material of said jaws, these protuberances serving as spring-centering elements which extend into the opposite ends of the coil spring. The coil spring 34 is enclosed within a pair of telescoping cup-shaped members 15 and i6 formed of fiber or other suitable heat insulating material, said cup-shaped members being provided with apertures formed in their otherwise closed ends through which the pro- 35 tuberances i and l" extend in order to maintain said cup-shaped members in their proper positions. It will be noted that the opposite ends of the coil spring ll contact with the inner faces of the walls at the closed ends of the cup-shaped members l5 and I8, and said coil spring forces said members against the fixed jaw and the movable jaw. This, together with the fact that the protuberances l and l areextended through the apertures formed through the walls at the closed ends of the cup-shaped members, positively anchors said cup-shaped members in place. Theassociated cup-shaped members completely enclose the coil spring I4 so as to protect it irom-the intense heat generated by the welding operations and prevent particles of molten metal produced by the welding operations from lodging I on the coil spring. Also, because of the telescopic relation of the cup-shaped members I! and it, this protection is not afleoted by movement of the movable jaw toward and from the fixed jaw, as the cup-shaped member 56 associated with the movable jaw moves with the movable jaw in telescopic relation with respect to the cup-shaped member, i5 associated with the fixed jaw.

The rear portion 3 of the fixed jaw i has associated with it a sleeve 81, said sleeve being cut away at opposed points as indicated at is in Fig. 5, and said rear portion 3 of said fixed-jaw being driven tightly into the opening produced by said cut away portions 8 8 so as to securely fix the sleeve to the fixed jaw. Preferably the sleeve ii is provided with an outstanding flange it at its forward end, and the rear end portion of said sleeve is provided with external screw-threads 20. Also, preferably the sleeve 6? is relieved as indicated at 2 i in Fig. 2 at its circumferential face. The opening 22 formed through the sleeve it receives an end portion of an electrical conductor 23 which conducts electrical energy to the electrode holder, said end portion of said electrical conductor prei erably having wrapped thereabout a layer of thin metal 26. The conductor 23 is clamped to the sleeve it through the instrumentality of clamping screws 25 which pass through alined screwthreaded openings formed through the sleeve it and the rear end portion 2 of the fixed jaw i.

These clamping screws are screwed into clamping engagement with the layer of thin metal 24!,

whereby the conductor is gripped between the I 3 of the fixed jaw i provide more adequate and durable support for the clamping screws 25 than would be the case if the clamping screws were supported solely in openings formed through the softer material ofthe sleeve it;

The handle of the improved electrode holder is provided by a tubular member26 formed of suitable electrical insulating material through which the electrical conductor 23 extends, said tubular member being provided with internal screwthreads 21 which are screwed in engagement with the screw-threads on the sleeve H. for the purpose of securing said tubular member to said sleeve. The improved electrode holder A includes also a shield 23 formed of fiber or other suitable heat insulating material which is provided with an opening through which the sleeve ll extends, said shield being secured in place by having the material of the shield located adjacent to the opening therein clamped between the forward edge of the tubular member 26 and the rear face of the flange I9 01 the sleeve H. In order to prevent rotation of the shield 28 about the sleeve II, we provide the flange l9 0! said sleeve with a projection 29 which enters a notch 30 formed in the shield. The shield 28 is provided with an I opening 3| into and out of which the portion l2 of the movable jaw 1 moves when said jaw portion is moved upwardly and downwardly in operating said movable jaw. I

By providing the improved pivotal joint between the fixed jaw I and the movable jaw l as produced by the U-shaped element 5, the pivot element 3, and the curved seat 8 of the movable jaw, a wiping action is obtained which makes tor contact between the seat 8 of the movable jaw and the pivot element 6 under the force exerted by the coilspring it. Thus wear of the parts which produce said pivotal joint does not impair the electrical connection between the fixed jaw and the movable jaw, as the coil spring will take up all such wear.

We claim:

1. An electrode holder comprising a pair of jaws, means for pivotally connecting one of said jaws to the other jaw, a coil spring associated with said jaws so as to impart relative movement thereto, and protective meansfor enclosing said coil spring, said protective means comprising a pair of telescopically arranged members formed of heat insulating material movable relative to each other when one of said jaws is moved with respect to the other jaw. k

'2. An electrode holder comprising a pair of jaws, means for pivotally connecting one of said jaws to the other jaw, a coil spring associated with said jaws so as to impart relative movement thereto, and protective means for enclosing said coil spring, said protective means comprising a pair of telescopicallyarranged members formed of heat insulating material fixed to the respective jaws and movable relative to each other when one of said jaws is moved with respect to the other jaw.

3. An electrode holder comprising a pair oi jaws, means for pivotally connecting one of said jaws to the other jaw, a coil spring associated with said jaws so as to impart relative movement thereto, and protective means for enclosing said coil spring, said protective means comprising a pair oi cup-shaped, telescopically arranged members formed 01 heat insulating material fixed to the respective jaws and movable relative to each other when one of said jaws is moved with respect to the other jaw. a

4. An electrode holder comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, means for pivotally" connecting said fixed jaw to said movable j aw, said means comprising an element extended from said fixed jaw, a pivot element supported by said element in transverse relation with respect to said fixed jaw, and a curved seat formed on said movable jaw with which said pivot element contacts, and a coil spring associated with said jaws and adapted to impart movement to said movable jaw with respect to said fixed jaw.

5. An electrode holder comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, means for pivotally connecting said fixed jaw to said movable jaw, said means comprising an element extended from said fixed jaw, a pivot element supported by said element in transverse relation with respect to said fixed jaw, and a curved seat formed on said movable jaw with which one side portion only of said pivot element contacts, and a coil spring associated with said jaws and adapted to impart movement to said movable jaw with respect to said fixed jaw.

6. An electrode holder comprising a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, means for pivotally connecting said fixed jaw to said movable jaw, saidmeans comprising an element extended from said fixed jaw, a pivot element supported by said element in transverse relation with respect to said fixed jaw, and a curved, depressed seat formed on said movable jaw with which one side portion only of said pivot element contacts, and a coil spring associated with said jaws and adapted to impart movement to said movable jaw with respect to said fixed jaw.

7. An electrode holder comprising a fixed jaw comprising a U-shaped element extended from said fixed jaw, a pivot element supported by said element in transverse relation with respect to said fixed jaw, and a curved, depressed seat formed on said movable jaw with which one side portion only 01' said pivot element contacts. and a coil spring associated with said jaws and adapted to impart movement to said movable law with respect to said fixed jaw. a

8. An electrode holder comprising a pair jaws, means for pivotally connecting one of said jaws to the other jaw, a sleeve associated with one of said jaws, the last-mentioned jaw having arear end portion which is driven into an opening formed in said sleeve, and means for connecting an electrical conductor to said sleeve. 7

- 9. An electrode holder comprising a pair oi" 20 jaws, means for pivotally connecting one oi-said;

Jaws to the other jaw, a sleeve associated with one of said jaws, the last-mentioned jaw having a rear end portion which is driven-into an opening formed in said sleeve, and means for connecting an electrical conductor to said sleeve comprising a screw-threaded clamping element extended through a screw-threaded opening iormed through said rear end jaw portion.

10. An electrode holder comprising a pair of jaws, means for pivotallyconnecting one of said jaws to the other jaw, a sleeve associated with one oi said jaws. the last-mentioned jaw having a rear end portion which is driven into an opening formed in said sleeve, and means for connecting an electrical conductor to said sleeve comprising a screw-threaded clamping element extended through alined screw-threaded openings formed through said rear end jaw portion and said sleeve.

ARTHUR J. FAUSEK. IRWING I". FAUBEK. 

